A DIVORCED mother-of-four from Bury has been jailed in France for people smuggling.

Shabnam Zeeshan, aged 52, of Manchester Road, Bury, was imprisoned for a year after officials caught her hiding with two people in a car boot at the Calais side of the Channel Tunnel.

A gang from the North West of England had approached her with the offer of cash to help smuggle migrants into the country and she is said to have agreed in order to raise funds to pay for her son's wedding.

A court heard how the migrants she carried had paid gang masters £2,500 each to be taken to England.

Zeeshan herself was only set to pocket £500 per migrant from the deal.

Her lawyer, Orsane Broisin, said: "She had debts of around £14,000 and wanted to pay something towards her son's wedding.

"She was contacted by people who knew she was desperate.

"They told her it would be easy and she accepted.

"The gang paid for the rental of the car, she drove to France, met them, and was offered £500 per migrant."

He added she regretted her actions but was desperate for the money.

Zeeshan is now serving time in Chemin de la Plaine women's prison near Lille.

Courts in northern France have hired extra staff to cope with the number of migrant smuggling cases.

Neighbours said Zeeshan was an "everyday" and "friendly" mother who lived with her children in a rented £150,000 home.

Alongside Zeeshan, two other British citizens were caught smuggling migrants.